CHURCH GROUP MAY TAKE ELIAN TO CUBA

Elian Gonzalez may fly back to Cuba accompanied by a delegation of church members from New York and their children, going along to help the boy make the traumatic journey back to his old life.

Or Elian's father may fly to South Florida, remain secluded at an airport, then fly back with his 6-year-old son.

Those are two options being considered by members of the New York-based National Council of Churches, the largest religious organization in the United States. The council is waiting to hear from the U.S. government if they will be the "third party" given the task of escorting the boy back to Cuba by next Friday.

Last week, council members traveled to Cuba to lend support to Elian's father.

"We are here to try to help diminish the trauma of this trip for the boy," said Oscar Bolioli, director of the council's Latin American and Caribbean office. "This is the first time the boy is going to fly and that will be bad enough. We are trying to get several children Elian's age, and at least one that speaks Spanish, to keep him company."

The delegation also would take back school supplies for Elian's classmates in his hometown, Cardenas, to be presented as a gift from the boy.

The council has not been summoned yet, but may well be -- Elian's relatives in Miami said they had not spoken to the boy's father in Cuba, nor discussed how they might get the boy back. In announcing that Elian should return home, INS officials said a third party might be called upon to help.

While the family has not discussed details of such a trip, they did explain to Elian on Thursday that he must go back to Cuba. He did not seem upset and then the adults distracted him with play.

"He acted like any 6-year-old," said family spokesman Armando Gutierrez. "We don't know if he comprehends the whole thing."

Attorneys for Elian's relatives spent the day plotting strategy on Thursday, but had not yet filed any legal pleadings to stop the boy's return.

Many, including presidential candidate Al Gore, think Elian's fate should be decided in a court, not in a political arena.

"The true culprit here is Fidel Castro who has put Elian and all those who care about him in an untenable position in choosing between family and freedom," Gore said Thursday.

Luisa Yanez can be reached at lyanez@sun-sentinel.com or 305-810-5007.